Device for charging furnaces with moulds

ABSTRACT

A device for charging furnaces with moulds comprising a plurality of frames, each frame provided with a support axle for supporting an individual mould, forwarding means for sequentially transporting each said frame in a timed sequence and feed means sequentially collecting said frames from said forwarding means and further transporting said frames into and out of said furnace.

o United States stem 1151 3,650,729 Lamkemeyer 1 May 2, 1972 54 DEVICE FOR CHARGING FURNACES [561 References Cited WITH MOULDS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inven or: Kla L mk y 0 H 2,368,615 2/1945 Reese ..214/27 sbrockerstrasse, D4830, Guetersloh, Ger- 3,307,720 3/1967 Davis et a1. ..2l4/89 many Primary ExaminerR0bert G, Sheridan [22] Flled' 1970 Attorney-McGlew & Toren [21] Appl. No.: 24,243

57 ABSTRACT 52 us. c1 .214/25, 18 4 P, 198/107, A device for charging furnaces with moulds Comprising a p gg g o 21 7 rality of frames, each frame provided with a support axle for 51 lm. c1 ..F27b 9/38 Supporting an individual mould, forwarding means for Sequen- 58 Field of Search ..214/1 BB, 1 BC, 25, 27, 28; transporting am Said frame in a timed Sequence and 198/107, 210; 18/4 P, 5 R, 20 R; 266/4 R feed means sequentially collecting said frames from said forwarding means and further transporting said frames into and out of said furnace.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvmum KLAUS LAMKEMEIER W ATTORNE Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,729

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,729

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A F 19.3 NJ

lNVlzN'IURI KLAUS LHMKEMEYER BYI in)? wwmfl ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR CHARGING FURNACES WITH MOULDS The present invention relates to a device for naces or kilns with moulds.

It is known to charge furnaces or the like with moulds in the following manner. A support frame containing the moulds is transported usually by means of a lifting tackle to the charging side of the furnace. It is then moved manually into the furnace by means of a conveyor device such as a roller conveyor or the like.

Such a method of charging is cumbersome and time consuming and requires an excessive number of operatives. Furthermore, this known method involves an inconsistent mode of operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for charging furnaces or the like with moulds which is of simple construction, is reliable in operation, and permits charging at the optimum rate while avoiding the above-stated disadvantages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which automatically engages at least one container supporting a mould, conveys the contained mould and then releases it.

Furthermore, the containers should be moved automatically by the charging device in a timed sequence. Each container therefore occupies a plurality of sequential positions while being transported to and from the furnace and while being cooled. It is a further object of the invention that cooling should also take place automatically.

The invention will be described further, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a device for charging furnaces with moulds, which device includes means for receiving support frames loaded with moulds and a driving means for moving the support frames into and out of a furnace, which latter is shown charged with one such support frame;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the retaining means of a turnstile of the forwarding means; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the retaining means of the feed means.

A device for charging furnaces or the like with moulds includes a forwarding device 12 adapted to receive support frames 11 stacked with moulds. The forwarding device conveys the support frames 11 in a timed sequence through a series of positions.

The support frames 11 may be single or multi-tiered and supports 13 for the moulds themselves may be frame-like, lattice-like or plate-shaped heat treated structures. Each suppr't 13 is fitted with a central support axle 14 having two terminal positions 14a, 14b spaced one above the other. Each terminal position has at least one extension in the upper region, projecting from the axle part and formed by an encircling collar 146.

The forwarding device 12 is associated with a supply and removal device 15 adapted to accept the support frames 11 from the forwarding device 12 and move them into the furnace 10, remove them therefrom and transfer them again to the forwarding device 12, which supply and removal device executes a rectilinear reciprocal movement.

The forwarding device 12, conveys the support frames 11 along an arcuate, preferably circular path, divided into timecontrolled movement regions.

The forwarding device 12 is formed as a turnstile 18 or rotary ring and is provided with a plurality of retaining members evenly distributed over the path of the detachably retained support frames 11. When the forwarding device 12 is formed as a rotary ring 18, the free outer ends of supporting arms 19 are each provided with a retaining member 20 which is formed as a grip which clamps onto and retains the vertical support axle 14 of the support frames 11 in the terminal position 14a, which axle is thereby supported in a suspended position. The retaining member 20 may be actuated by hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical means.

charging fur- The retaining member 20, as shown in FIG. 3, is formed as a grip comprising two gripping members 200 and 201; each of which is automatically movable by longitudinal displacement of the support arms 19 automatically into the closed (i.e., retaining) and open (i.e., releasing) positions. The gripping members, which may be identical, are detachably mounted on the associated support arm 19 and are pivotal about bearing pins 21.

To receive the support axles, each gripping member 20a and 20b is provided on its inner edge with a lateral recess 22 engaging around substantially half the supporting axle crosssection. The bearing pins 21 for the gripping members 20a and 20b are located at the opposite end of the retaining member 20 to the recess 22. Between the recess 22 and the bearing pin 21, spring members are provided to automatically hold the two gripping members 20a, 20b in abutment against one another.

These spring members are, as shown in FIG. 3, formed by helical compression springs 23 which act against theouter edge of each member 20a and 20b. Both helical compression springs are located on a common retaining guide pin having retaining projections 24 provided on the free end thereof. This pin is also adapted to pass through the two gripping members 20a and 20b. The gripping members 204 and 20 may also be aligned side by side in the stopped position or may be also supported against a stop such as pin 26, provided on the support arm 19.

To enable the gripping members to automatically open when they strike against a support axle 14 of the support frame, at least one of the these members 20a and 20b is provided at its end adjacent the recess 22 with an inclined and/or arcuate baffle surface 27 thus causing the gripping members to be spread apart when the support axle strikes thereagainst.

The forwarding device 12 is driven by a motor 28, which is arranged in the upper region of the axle l7 and transmits its rotary movement indirectly to a driving wheel 30 via a driving wheel 29 non-rotatably connected to the turnstile 18. The two driving wheels 29 and 30 are formed as gear wheels which mesh with one another.

The driving motor 28 is connected to a switch (not shown) which controls the timed rotational movement of the turnstile 18. The timed movement is therefore effected automatically.

The gear wheel drive 29 and 30 may also be replaced by a chain drive, belt drive or friction wheel drive for the transmission of movement from the driving motor 28 to the turnstile 18.

The feed device 15 is provided with a push-rod 32 displaceably mounted below the turnstile 18 in a guide supported by a stand 16. This stand is mounted so as to be laterally displaceable, and the rod is preferably formed as a racked bar and reciprocated on a rectilinear track by a separate driving motor 34. The reciprocating motion of the push-rod 32 can thus be controlled in dependence upon the movement of the turnstile.

The push-rod 32 may also be a friction rod and the associated driving wheel 33 a friction wheel.

The free end of the push-rod 32 is also provided with a griplike retaining member 35 which clampingly engages around the support axle 14 of the support frame at the terminal position 14b.

The retaining member 35 is members 35a and 35b which can be identical and are adapted to be remotely controlled. The gripping members 35a and 35b may be pivotally mounted in a scissor-like manner on a pivot 36 or alternatively may each be separately mounted in a pivot as in the case of retaining member 20. Similarly, while the free end regions of these gripping members 35a and 35b are formed almost identically to the gripping members 20a and 201:, the rear region of each gripping member 35a and 35b is provided with an actuating lever 37 extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the retaining member.

The two actuating levers 37 of the retaining member 35 assume a V-shaped position relative to one another and are opened or closed by a longitudinally displaceable slider 40 of provided with two gripping the push-rod. Three stops 38 and 39 are provided on the slider to deflect the actuating levers 37 by striking against the inner or outer surfaces thereof. These stops 38 and 3? may be formed as pins, cams or the like. The slider 40 is connected to a remotely controlled pressure cylinder 41, advantageously a compressed air cylinder, which is connected to the push-rod 32. The stops 38 are disposed one on each lateral edge of the slider. Consequently, during the retracting movement of the slider 40 (see FIG. 4), they each act on the outer lateral surface of the actuating lever 37 adjacent thereto thereby forcing the two actuating levers 36 towards one another, which causes the grip to open. The stop 39 is located substantially centrally on the slider 40 within a V-shaped space provided between the actuating levers 37. During forward movement of the slider 40, Le, towards the furnace 10, this stop 38 acts against the inner lateral surface of at least one, but preferably both, actuating levers 37. This causes the grips to close during the forward movement of the slider.

The means for controlling the timing of the automatic movement of the forwarding device 12 and the reciprocating feed device 15 may be any known mechanical or electronic means.

During the rotation of the forwarding device 12 (as shown by the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2), the turnstile 18 is associated with a bath 42. This bath lies in the rotary path of the support frames 11 and is mounted so as to be vertically displaceable. This vertical movement is effected by means of a pressure cylinder 43 or the like. This pressure cylinder 43 is fixed to the stand 16 of a base plate.

The furnace may be of the rotary centrifugal casting type and is provided with a clamp 45 which rotates about a horizontal axis 44 which holds each support frame charged into the furnace.

The automatic movement means rotates the forwarding device 12 through 90 each time.

The moulds supported on the support frames 11 may be filled with a granulate of plastics material, rubber or the like by heat action and which is processed within the furnace 10 by the action of heat and rotation into a moulded article. The support frame 11 furthest from the furnace 10 constitutes the loading and removal position; the moulded articles thus manufactured are removed by hand from the moulds at this point and the moulds replenished with a new batch of granulate.

After a certain period of time, the forwarding device 12, which is automatically controlled by the switching device, executes a rotary movement and each support frame 11 laden with moulds is rotated, in a horizontal plane, through 90. The most recently replenished moulds and their associated support frame will now be in a position furthest from the bath 42. After a further rotational movement of the turnstile 18 through 90, the above-mentioned support frame will be in the charging region of the furnace 10. The feed now carries out its automatic operation.

The push-rod 32 together with its associated retaining member 35 engages the support axle 14 at its terminal position 14b, moves it out of the retaining member 20 of the turnstile 18 and pushes the suspended support frame 11 into the furnace 10. The push-rod 32 transfers the support frame 11 to a rotary member 45 and then moves out of the furnace. When the furnace is closed, the member 45 together with the support frame 1 l, executes a rotary movement about its horizontal axis 44. The heat then causes moulding of the granulate to take place.

On completion of the moulding operation, the furnace 10 is opened, and the push-rod 32 moves back into the furnace to re-engage the support frame 1 1. The push-rod 32 extracts the support frame 11 from the furnace and transfers it to the forwarding means 12. This forwarding means 12 again rotates through 90, so that the support frame carrying the moulded articles arrives in the region of the bath 42. This bath 42 is automatically lifted and the support frame 1 1 is received therein. The moulded articles are cooled in this bath which is filled with water or the like and are caused to set. After such cooling has taken place, the bath is lowered and the forwarding means 12 rotates the support frame to the loading and removal position.

All support frames 11 of the forwarding means 12 are subjected to the same sequence of operations and are automatically caused to assume the successive positions.

The device for charging furnaces with moulds in accordance with the invention is of simple structure, reliable in operation and has a favorable operational sequence; the particular advantage of the invention is seen in the automatic charging of the furnaces which, due to a rational and uninterrupted operation cycle, yields a high hourly output and only requires a small number of operators to load and remove the moulds.

It is also within the scope of the invention for the circular path of the forwarding means to be different, such as elliptical, and for these forwarding means to be provided with more than four, for example six or eight, support frames. Furthermore, the retaining members may be fitted with claws instead of a clamp holder.

The path of the feed means may also be arcuate, the pushrod being curved so that its movement describes an are.

I claim:

1. A device for charging furnaces with moulds comprising a plurality of frames, each frame provided with a support axle for supporting an individual mould, forwarding means for sequentially transporting each said frame in a timed sequence, feed means sequentially collecting said frames from said forwarding means and further transporting said frames into and out of said furnace, said forwarding means comprising a stand, a bearing axle arranged vertically upright on said stand, a tumstile mounted on said axle and provided with a plurality of grip-like retaining members for receiving said frames, and a prime mover driving said turnstile, said feed means comprising a plurality of retaining members for retaining said frames forwarded by said forwarding means, a prime mover for driving said retaining members, means for guiding said driven retaining members into and out of said furnace, said guide means being disposed below said forwarding means, and means for synchronizing said prime movers of said forwarding means and said feed means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said prime mover for said feed means comprises a motor, a reciprocating pushrod driven by said motor, said push-rod being provided with a plurality of grip-like retaining members and guide means for guiding said push-rod.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said push-rod is constituted by a racked bar.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said retaining member on said push-rod comprises a grip and a pressure cylinder actuating said grip.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grip-like retaining members are formed as a mechanical spring grip, said spring grip being constituted by two spring grip members clampingly engaging said support axle of one said support frame.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said grip comprises two pivotally mounted grip members, an actuating lever forming part of each said grip member extending at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis of said grip member, a slider for displacing each said actuating lever and means for connecting said slider to said pressure cylinder.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding means additionally comprises a bath located beneath said turnstile. 

1. A device for charging furnaces with moulds comprising a plurality of frames, each frame provided with a support axle for supporting an individual mould, forwarding means for sequentially transporting each said frame in a timed sequence, feed means sequentially collecting said frames from said forwarding means and further transporting said frames into and out of said furnace, said forwarding means comprising a stand, a bearing axle arranged vertically upright on said stand, a turnstile mounted on said axle and provided with a plurality of grip-like retaining members for receiving said frames, and a prime mover driving said turnstile, said feed means comprising a plurality of retaining members for retaining said frames forwarded by said forwarding means, a prime mover for driving said retaining members, means for guiding said driven retaining members into and out of said furnace, said guide means being disposed below said forwarding means, and means for synchronizing said prime movers of said forwarding means and said feed means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said prime mover for said feed means comprises a motor, a reciprocating push-rod driven by said motor, said push-rod being provided with a plurality of grip-like retaining members and guide means for guiding said push-rod.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said push-rod is constituted by a racked bar.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said retaining member on said push-rod comprises a grip and a pressure cylinder actuating said grip.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grip-like retaining membeRs are formed as a mechanical spring grip, said spring grip being constituted by two spring grip members clampingly engaging said support axle of one said support frame.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said grip comprises two pivotally mounted grip members, an actuating lever forming part of each said grip member extending at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis of said grip member, a slider for displacing each said actuating lever and means for connecting said slider to said pressure cylinder.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said forwarding means additionally comprises a bath located beneath said turnstile. 